Ring having two parts that can be displaced relative to one another

ABSTRACT

The ring has at least two mutually rotatable parts, with a detent mechanism for respectively one of two mutually rotatable parts, and securing means. For improving the detent mechanism and the substantially play-free retention the detent mechanism is respectively provided in the intersecting plane (S) of two mutually rotatable parts and the mutually rotatable parts are secured by at least one springable element. Furthermore, if marks are provided on the surfaces of the ring, the most varied appearances can be altered and obtained by rotating one of the parts. This applies particularly if the surfaces of the parts are not even but wave-shaped.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention refers to a ring having at least two mutuallyrotatable parts, with a detent mechanism for respectively one of twomutually rotatable parts, and securing means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a ring is known from the European Patent Application No. 1,132,017,the ring having a detent mechanism, on one hand, and the ring partsbeing provided with retention means, on the other hand.

Furthermore, rings are known where parts are mutually displaceable orcan be lifted off. As early as in the Middle Ages and later, ringshaving displaceable or removable or openable parts have existed, therebyallowing either to change the ring and to reveal other aspects or tokeep small objects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on this prior art, it is the object of the present invention toprovide a ring having at least two mutually rotatable parts and offeringthe possibility of making multiple adjustments in at least one plane toreveal both changing esthetic aspects and information that may possiblybe provided on the ring, the latter having a detent mechanism and aretention means for allowing a precisely positioning and substantiallyplay-free rotation of the ring parts.

This is accomplished by a ring wherein the detent mechanism isrespectively provided in the intersecting plane (S) of two mutuallyrotatable parts and the mutually rotatable parts are secured by at leastone springable element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter withreference to drawings of an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a ring according to the invention in alateral view,

FIG. 2 shows the ring of FIG. 1 in a partly sectioned view,

FIG. 3 shows a section according to line III/III in FIG. 4, and

FIG. 4 shows the ring of FIG. 1 with the upper portion rotated by 120°.

FIG. 5 shows a ring composed of more than two rotatable parts.

FIG. 6 shows a ring wherein its surface is provided with letters and/ordecorations and/or precious stones.

FIG. 7 shows a ring composed of more than two rotatable parts whereinthe more than two rotatable parts are provided with decorations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The ring described hereinafter is composed of two parts, but it will beapparent from the description that rings according to the invention mayalso comprise three or more parts.

Ring 1 is composed of two parts 2 and 3 that are rotatable relative toone another. Both parts are wave-shaped on the outside with respect toits inner intersection plane resp. rotational plane S, so that theappearance of the ring continually changes as the two parts are rotatedmutually. As appears in FIGS. 2 and 3, one of the parts, in this casepart 3, is provided in the intersection plane with a detent ring 4having detent holes 5. The other part, in the present example part 2, isprovided with a ball 7 under the action of a spring 6, which may engagein one of detent holes 5, spring 6 and ball 7 being disposed in acorresponding bore 8 in part 2.

The two ring halves are secured by a springable washer 9 engaging in anannular groove 10 in part 2 and in an annular groove 11 in part 3,thereby securing the two parts to each other.

One aspect of this ring is that gap 12 between the two parts may be verythin due to the securing by spring means and thus hardly visible.However, it is understood that this gap may be enlarged and adorned, ifdesired.

Due to the fact that the ring is adjustable and lockable in a finegraduation by means of the detent mechanism, a variety of continuallychanging appearances may be obtained in accordance with the signs,shapes and other aspects that are provided.

This applies particularly in the case of wave-shaped or similarlydesigned surfaces 16 or 17 of the rings, while it is understood thatdifferent colors or engraved texts or stones with mounted portions etc.may also contribute to a continually changing appearance and that thementioned decorations may also be provided on the front surfaces of thering.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the two ring parts 2 and 3 areidentical in design and comprise three elevations with three dips,thereby forming surface structures 16 and 17, respectively. In FIG. 4,the upper part 2 has been rotated by 120° with respect to FIG. 1, and itis clearly apparent that the result is a completely different ring.

On this basis, a large number of variations are possible, i.e. thesurfaces may comprise two or more than three elevations, and the partsof a ring may have the same or different numbers of elevations.

Of course, the ring may also have a simple design and only compriseparts having essentially straight surfaces that may e.g. be faceted.

As already mentioned in the introduction, a ring may also be composed ofmore than two parts, e.g. of a middle part having detent rings on bothsides and of two outer parts with spring-loaded balls while therespective securing means are the same as previously described.

The detent mechanism is not limited to a detent ring with holes and aspring-loaded ball but may include other known detent means such asnotches on one part and one tooth or a plurality of teeth on the otherpart, which need not necessarily be spring-loaded.

Furthermore, the mutually rotatable parts may be secured by otherspringable means, e.g. by springable elements provided on one part thatengage in or behind elements or into annular grooves at the other part.

1. A jewelry piece having at least two mutually rotatable parts, whereinthe mutually rotatable parts are rotatable around a center line of thejewelry piece and in a plane, and at least two of said mutuallyrotatable parts define an intersecting jewelry piece plane (S), saidjewelry piece having a detent mechanism for respectively one of said atleast two mutually rotatable parts, and securing means, wherein thedetent mechanism is respectively provided in the intersecting jewelrypiece plane (S) of said at least two mutually rotatable parts and themutually rotatable parts are secured by at least one springable washerinserted in respective annular grooves in the at least two mutuallyrotatable parts, wherein said detent mechanism and said at least onespringable washer act perpendicular to said jewelry piece plane.
 2. Ajewelry piece according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least twomutually rotatable parts comprises, in the intersecting jewelry pieceplane (S), a detent ring having detent holes, and another part, which isrotatable relative to the one of the at least two mutually rotatableparts, comprises a spring-loaded ball adapted to engage in one of thedetent holes, said spring-loaded ball acting perpendicular to saidintersecting jewelry piece plane (S).
 3. A jewelry piece according toclaim 1, wherein the jewelry piece is composed of more than two mutuallyrotatable parts.
 4. A jewelry piece according to claim 1, wherein withrespect to the intersecting plane (S), a plurality of external sides ofthe jewelry piece in said intersecting jewelry piece plane (S) areuneven when viewed laterally.
 5. A jewelry piece according to claim 1,wherein a surface of the jewelry piece is provided with letters and/ordecorations and/or precious stones.
 6. A jewelry piece according toclaim 1, wherein with respect to the intersecting plane (S), a pluralityof external sides of the jewelry piece are wave-shaped.